We are reaching out to patients in the Luton, South Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire areas to request that they attend a repeat blood test. This is because some patients may have received an HbA1C blood test result that was higher than it should have been.
You may receive a call from the hospital in the coming weeks asking you to provide another blood sample for re-testing. Rest assured, we will contact you directly if your results might have been affected. We kindly ask that you refrain from calling the hospital or your GP to inquire about a re-test, as we are focusing on arranging these tests for those who need them.
This situation is limited to certain HbA1C tests conducted at our Luton and Dunstable University Hospital laboratory on specific dates in April and July 2024. We perform a wide range of blood tests for GPs, community teams, and hospital patients, and the only test affected is the HbA1C, which measures blood glucose levels.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call our helpline at 01582 329 660.
Further Information
In April and July 2024, we experienced an intermittent issue with our HbA1C blood test analyzing machines at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital laboratory. This may have resulted in some patients receiving HbA1C results that were potentially higher than they should have been.
HbA1C is a crucial blood test that measures an individual’s average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. It’s used to diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, as well as monitor blood glucose control in people with diabetes.
We have collaborated with hospital and GP clinicians to identify patients who may have received incorrect HbA1C results and to determine the necessary actions. Based on expert clinical advice, we are currently contacting all those who may have received incorrect results to offer a re-test as a precaution. This process is likely to continue for a few weeks. If you have not heard from us, please do not contact the hospital at this stage, as we are coordinating a large volume of additional blood tests.
Only HbA1C tests conducted on specific days in April and July 2024 are affected by this issue. If you have had any other blood test recently, you are not affected. The analyzers in question only test for HbA1C, so no other blood tests have been impacted, and patients should continue attending their blood test appointments as usual.
We sincerely apologize for any distress or inconvenience caused by this issue. We are conducting a detailed review to determine what went wrong and to identify any necessary improvements. As a precautionary measure, we are no longer analyzing these results at our Luton laboratory.
FAQs
Q: I have been invited for a re-test. How do I know the repeat test will be accurate?
Ans: The repeat blood sample will be sent to another hospital laboratory for analysis until we are confident that the Luton hospital analyzers are performing accurately.
Q: I was told by my doctor or nurse that I have diabetes or prediabetes. Could this be incorrect?
Ans: If your test was affected, your doctor or nurse may have interpreted your condition based on an incorrect result. It is important to arrange a repeat test as soon as possible so that your condition can be correctly assessed.
Q: My doctor or nurse started me on medication or a specific diet. Should I stop these now?
Ans: Do not stop your treatment. The sooner you have the repeat test, the sooner we can determine if your treatment is necessary. Your clinician will advise you after the repeat test.
Q: I’ve been referred to a diabetes or prediabetes program. Should I attend?
Ans: It’s difficult to provide guidance until we have your repeat test results. Engaging in these programs won’t harm you, but you may choose to wait until you have a confirmed diagnosis.
Q: I’ve been referred to the low-calorie liquid diet program for newly diagnosed diabetes. Should I attend?
Ans: As this program involves significant dietary changes, we recommend having your test repeated as soon as possible. Discuss your options with your doctor or nurse based on the new test results.
Q: Should I be worried?
Ans: While it’s natural to feel concerned, it’s important not to worry. Once we have your new results, we will be able to advise you on the next steps.
Q: Have I been affected by this issue?
Ans: We will contact all affected patients over the coming weeks. Please do not contact the hospital to ask if your test was affected; we will reach out to you if necessary. This issue only affects HbA1C tests conducted on certain days in April and July 2024.
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